Kosher for Passover Coconut Oil + Tips for Baking With Coconut Oil

I find Pesach baking a bit of a challenge, since I am not a fan of Passover margarine. At all.

Then two years ago, I discovered a game-changer: There are certain types of coconut oil that are kosher for Passover without a special KLP hechsher.

I first shared this with you last year, but it looks like the information is still good in 2014. In fact, the official word on coconut oil for Pesach 2013 2014 from the Webbe Rebbe is:

We have found that Organic Virgin* Coconut Oil from Spectrum when bearing the OU symbol is kosher for Pesach this year as well.

Note: Valid for Passover 2014 only.

As some of you may already know, you can substitute coconut oil for margarine in many recipes. But there are a few things you need to know:

Coconut oil will turn to liquid when it’s very warm in your kitchen, but otherwise it’s a solid. It easily goes back and forth, so a bit of heat will melt it — or a few minutes in the fridge will turn it right back into a solid.

*As many of you probably already know, “virgin” means unrefined when it comes to coconut oil. So, look for the Unrefined or Crude label on your jar (it most likely won’t say Virgin).

Unrefined coconut oil does have more of a coconut-y flavor than refined oil. Now, I am not a big fan of coconut, but it doesn’t bother me in baking or cooking. It’s certainly better than KLP margarine!

I usually buy my Spectrum Coconut Oil at Whole Foods, but you can also get it at Amazon right now for $12.98, shipped. (Update: Sorry, it looks like it’s gone up to around $16-$18. I recommend looking for this locally, as it will probably be less expensive.)

Have you baked with coconut oil?

(Beyond what I’ve shared from the OU, if you have any questions about whether coconut oil is Kosher for Passover, please talk to your local rabbi.)

Yuck margarine! I never use processed frankenfoods! I was told I can use all xtra virgin coconut oils! And there is almond flour KLP and my rav said I can use coconut flour fm organic sources from Philippines…. Check out http://www.digestivewellness.com

The WF container was smaller, although I can’t remember the exact size right now. I think it was $8 or $9. I’d say this is probably comparable, but I haven’t checked it in over a year. (During the year, I get EV which isn’t KLP, per the OU.)

Can’t seem to access Amazon to buy…..maybe this caused a run, I’m hoping it comes back up later today. I just don’t have time to go to a bricks and morter store. :-(. Thank you so much for ALL your posts, I love how you gind so many thing’s for me. Thank you so much !!

Per Spectrum’s website, the virgin is all non-extra virgin (meaning, it’s not labeled as virgin, but is). This is the same product I bought last year — and double checked with the OU that it was the correct one. That said, obviously please confirm all of this with your local rabbi if you have any questions or concerns. I’m just passing on information, but not paskening.

I’m not sure who told her that, Diane – but per the OU, the extra virgin is NOT KLP. It’s only the virgin/crude unrefined. I know – it seemed weird to me, too, last year – so I double checked it with them.

Mara: This is AMAZING! I had never heard about this before and I really hated buying the parve marg for Passover each year. It just seems so unhealthy, it’s always expensive, and I thought there was no other option. I just bought a jar of coconut oil and experimented with it with some banana bread (hey, it’s not Pesach yet!). Turned out WONDERFUL! I can’t even taste the coconut flavor. I’m definitely buying more jars to use during Pesach! Thank you!!!!

Butter is about 16% water (and some protein solids) as well as fat. To make pareve matzah roca, try adding a bit of water to start dissolving the brown sugar before melting it with the coconut (or other) oil.

I went to my local kosher store in Skokie, IL and asked if they had coconut oil that was K for P. The owner said no, they just had the Spectrum on the non-Passover shelves. He showed me the bottle and it was the exact one you’ve all been talking about. I told him it was fine for Passover, he called the cRc and, as I left with two bottles ($12.19 each), he was busily rearranging his shelves.

just made a batch of cookie dough with the coconut oil. I usually use margarine. The dough is in the fridge now and seems significantly firmer than it would be if I used marg. But I don’t think it’ll be a problem when I roll and bake the cookies.

Just following the threads and excitement from Pesach 2013, does anyone know if this coconut oil is also klp for 2014? I am in the uk and need to try to get hold if some. Are there any other Klp coconut oils.
Thanks